VFACTS: August 2023 new car sales results for Australia

Can you believe it, we’re already well and truly into the second half of 2023. And it seems now, or the month of August anyway, is the best time to buy a new vehicle. Because VFACTS new registration figures show a record effort.

According to the latest report, which counts new vehicle registrations (not necessarily ‘sales’, but we’ll call them sales for simplicity), Aussie buyers took delivery of a whopping 109,966 new cars. The FCAI (Federal Chamber of Automotive Industries) says it was the best August it has ever recorded. It’s also up considerably on the 96,859 units recorded the month prior, in July 2023.

That tally is up 15.4 per cent on last August and contributes to an increase of 9.9 per cent across year-to-date (YTD). So far this year the total figure is 788,584 units. FCAI CEO Tony Weber said:

“The Australian automotive sector continues to demonstrate its strength, with August recording unprecedented sales figures, reflecting both a high level of demand from Australians and improved supply of vehicles. Year-to-date sales have increased 9.9 per cent which is a better indicator of the underlying strength of the market.”

Kicking off with the most popular new vehicle brands for August, Toyota reported the highest figure with 22,321 units. This is up 8.3 per cent on last August, however, its YTD cumulative effort is down 17.2 per cent, likely caused by production delays and the subsequent after-shock.

Further down the list, we notice Isuzu jumped into eighth spot and is reporting the second-highest month-on-month increase in the top 10, while MG is experiencing the biggest growth.

These were the top 10 best-selling car brands for August 2023, including the percentage change from the same month last year in brackets:

Toyota: 22,321 (+8.3% on August 2022)
Mazda: 8458 (-4.1%)
Ford: 7898 (+35.3%)
Hyundai: 6513 (-2.0%)
Kia: 6510 (-4.0%)
MG: 5368 (+74.6%)
Mitsubishi: 4961 (-22.2%)
Isuzu: 4712 (+68.3%)
Subaru: 4706 (+59.0%)
Volkswagen: 3721 (+29.7%)

As for the most popular vehicle models in Australia during the month of August, the Toyota HiLux just edged in front of the Ford Ranger by two vehicles. Both reported big numbers nonetheless, proving once again the sheer popularity and demand for utes in Australia.

The Isuzu D-Max jumped into an impressive fourth spot overall, and we see the Hyundai Tucson and Mitsubishi Outlander gained enough momentum to sneak into the overall top 10. Here are the top 10 best-selling vehicles during August 2023, including the percentage change compared with the same month last year:

Toyota HiLux: 5762 (-7.3%)
Ford Ranger: 5760 (+28.1%)
Toyota RAV4: 3317 (+33.6%)
Isuzu D-Max: 3281 (+70.2%)
MG ZS: 3193 (+118.3%)
Toyota LandCruiser: 2743 (+15.3%)
Toyota Corolla: 2717 (+28.5%)
Tesla Model Y: 2314 (+127.5%)
Hyundai Tucson: 2084 (+21.2%)
Mitsubishi Outlander: 2030 (+29.5%)

Focusing on the categories, Toyota dominated the small under $40,000 class in August with the Corolla. It easily outsold the i30, even though these two are usually very close. The Mazda3 moved up as well, and we see the new MG5 is off to a great start after only hitting showrooms in the last few weeks.

Overall, this segment reported 6609 sales, which is down 7.7 per cent for the month. The YTD total is also down, by 23.3 per cent, as buyers shift to SUVs and utes, no doubt. Here are the full results (10 vehicles listed in VFACTS) for this category for August, with the percentage change compared with August 2022 in brackets:

Toyota Corolla: 2808 (+32.8%)
Hyundai i30: 1765 (-10.6%)
Mazda3: 1041 (-30.6%)
Kia Cerato: 535 (-51.0%)
MG MG5: 338 (new vehicle)
Skoda Scala: 83 (+232.0%)
Subaru Impreza: 39 (-89.0%)
Hyundai Ioniq: 0 (-100%)
Toyota Prius: 0 (-100%)
Toyota Prius V: 0 (-100%)

Moving up to the small above $40,000 segment and it’s hard not to notice the stellar effort of the Volkswagen Golf. It outsold the popular German rivals, including the A-Class and 1 Series, by quite a margin.

Interestingly, we also see the new MG4 hits the ground running, jumping straight into second spot. These two likely contributed to the cracking overall segment figure of 2145 units for August, which is up 20.2 per cent on last August.

See below for the complete segment results for the month, with the percentage change compared with the same month last year in brackets:

Volkswagen Golf: 500 (+43.7%)
MG MG4: 296 (new vehicle)
Subaru WRX: 245 (-10.3%)
Audi A3: 235 (-12.6%)
Mercedes-Benz A-Class: 199 (-32.5%)
Honda Civic: 118 (122.6(%)
Cupra Born: 116 (new vehicle)
BMW 1 Series: 100 (-49.5%)
GWM Ora: 90 (new vehicle)
BMW 2 Series Gran Coupe: 84 (-61.6%)
Nissan Leaf: 62 (+63.2%)
Cupra Leon: 31 (+53.8%)
MINI Clubman: 30 (+30.4%)
Peugeot 308: 28 (new model)
Renault Megane: 11 (+57.1%)
Mercedes-Benz B-Class: 0 (-100%)
Ford Focus: 0 (-100.0%)
BMW i3: 0 (-100%)

In the dwindling medium below $60,000 class interest for the Toyota Camry spiked, or perhaps delivery bottlenecks loosened up. It posted a decent figure for the month, leaving all others for dead.

The complete class reported just 1648 units in August. That’s actually up 7.9 per cent on last August but the YTD figure of negative 10.5 per cent isn’t encouraging. See below for the results of the complete lineup, with the percentage change compared with August 2022 in brackets:

Toyota Camry: 1337 (+12.9%)
Skoda Octavia: 118 (+999%)
Mazda6: 112 (-48.4%)
Volkswagen Passat: 56 (-16.4%)
Honda Accord: 19 (+5.6%)
Hyundai Sonata: 6 (-81.8%)

Tesla Model 3 sales jumped even higher in medium above $60,000 class, with the electric favourite posting almost 1000 units. The figure is down 58.2 per cent on the 2380 units newly registered last August, though.

BMW 3 Series figures moved it up into second spot, just ahead of the Polestar 2 fully electric vehicle. Speaking of electric vehicles, the Hyundai IONIQ 6 and BMW i4 couldn’t quite match the other EVs.

Total segment sales reached 2254 units during the month, which is down 36.5 per cent compared with last August. The YTD figure of 24,448 units is up 51.2 per cent. Mind you, there are more models in the lineup this year.

See below for the complete results for August, with the percentage change compared with the same month last year in brackets:

Tesla Model 3: 995 (-58.2%)
BMW 3 Series: 237 (-3.7%)
Polestar 2: 225 (+492.1%)
Lexus ES: 135 (+37.8%)
Mercedes-Benz C-Class: 133 (-56.5%)
Audi A4: 99 (+147.5%)
Mercedes-Benz CLA: 79 (-40.2%)
BMW 4 Series Gran Coupe: 70 (-29.3%)
Audi A5 Sportback: 68 (+126.7%)
Volkswagen Arteon: 59 (0.0%)
Hyundai IONIQ 6: 46 (new vehicle)
Peugeot 508: 36 (+260%)
Volvo V60 Cross Country: 23 (+155.6%)
Alfa Romeo Giulia: 22 (-24.1%)
BMW i4: 14 (-56.3%)
Volvo S60: 9 (-55.0%)
Genesis G70: 3 (-80.0%)
Jaguar XE: 1 (-80.0%)
Lexus IS: 0 (0.0%)

Moving up a size and the large below $70,000 class was led by the Kia Stinger once again. Sales appear to be dropping off, which makes sense considering the sports sedan is set to go out of production soon.

The others in this class aren’t looking much better, with all three combined contributing to just 77 units overall. That’s down 10.5 per cent on last August, and the YTD figure is down 17.8 per cent.

Only three vehicles are listed in this category. See below for the results for August 2023, with the percentage change compared with the same month last year in brackets:

Kia Stinger: 47 (-4.1%)
Skoda Superb: 25 (-32.4%)
Citroen C5 X: 4 (new vehicle)

Into the luxury large above $70,000 segment and things aren’t deteriorating quite so much. In fact, the segment is experiencing a YTD increase of 22.6 per cent. Although, the monthly figure is down 9.2 per cent.

At the front of the pack is the Mercedes-Benz E-Class for August, closely followed by the BMW 5 Series and Mercedes EQE which cross the line with the same figure. Audi A6 sales are going reasonably well, and there is an all-new generation not too far away. It’ll come in as an e-tron fully electric model.

See below for the complete lineup results, with the percentage change compared with August last year in brackets:

Mercedes-Benz E-Class: 31 (-13.9%)
BMW 5 Series: 30 (-53.1%) / Mercedes-Benz EQE: 30 (new vehicle)
Audi A6: 24 (-14.3%)
Porsche Taycan: 22 (-12.0%)
Audi e-tron GT: 13 (new vehicle)
Audi A7: 6 (0.0%)
Genesis G80: 5 (-66.7%)
Maserati Ghibli: 3 (-62.5%)
Toyota Mirai: 2 (0.0%)
Jaguar XF: 1 (-100%) / Mercedes-Benz CLS: 1 (-66.7%)

In the CEO class, the upper large above $100,000 segment was led by the brilliant new BMW i7. The new fully electric 7 Series outsold its combustion-engined sibling two-fold in August.

Overall class figures topped out at 49 units for the month, and so far this year the class has reported 338 sales. These are down 19.7 per cent and 8.4 per cent, respectively.

See below for the complete lineup results, with the percentage change compared with the same month last year in brackets:

BMW i7: 10 (new vehicle)
Mercedes-AMG GT 4: 9 (+999%) / Mercedes-Benz S-Class: 9 (-55.0%)
Porsche Panamera: 7 (+75%)
BMW 7 Series: 5 (-28.6%)
Mercedes EQS: 3 (-84.2%) / Lexus LS: 3 (0%)
Bentley sedan: 1 (-66.7%) / Rolls-Royce sedan: 1 (-100%) / BMW 8 Series Gran Coupe: 1 (-80%)
Audi A8: 0 (-100%)
Maserati Quattroporte: 0 (-100%)

The Subaru BRZ was the class favourite in the entry sports below $80,000 category in August. It outsold its platform-sharing sibling, the Toyota GR86, by more than a view units. The Ford Mustang continues to drop as showrooms prepare for the new model to arrive, including the electric Mach-E.

Overall class figures reached 607 units for the month, up 19 per cent, and the year-to-date tally of 4750 units is up an impressive 71.1 per cent. See below for the complete lineup results, with the percentage change compared with August last year in brackets:

Subaru BRZ: 164 (+67.3%)
Toyota GR86: 128 (new vehicle)
BMW 2 Series coupe/convertible: 93 (+60.3%)
Nissan Z: 87 (+690.9%)
Ford Mustang: 70 (-73.2%)
Mazda MX-5: 38 (-34.5%)
MINI Cabrio: 27 (+12.5%)
Nissan 370Z: 0 (outgoing model)

Across in the more premium sports above $80,000 segment, and we see the Mercedes C-Class two-door and BMW 4 Series two-door are neck-and-neck. While this is happening, the Chevrolet Corvette has moved up into third spot.

Lotus Emira sales are still going strong for such a niche vehicle, and the GR Supra is plodding along and posting reasonable numbers. Overall, this segment reported 390 units in August, which is up 23.4 per cent for the month compared with last year.

See below for the full lineup results, with the percentage change compared with August 2022 in brackets:

Mercedes-Benz C-Class coupe/convertible: 98 (+84.9%)
BMW 4 Series coupe/convertible: 92 (-25.8%)
Chevrolet Corvette: 38 (+18.8%)
Toyota GR Supra: 33 (+371.4%)
Porsche Cayman: 21 (+133.3%) / Lotus Emira: 21 (new vehicle) / Porsche Boxster: 21 (+425%)
Audi A5: 19 (-24.0%)
Mercedes-Benz E-Class coupe/convertible: 14 (-58.8%)
Lexus LC: 12 (+500%) / BMW Z4: 12 (-14.3%)
Audi TT: 6 (+200%)
Jaguar F-Type: 3 (-62.5%)
Alfa Romeo 4C: 0 (0%)
Alpine A110: 0 (0%)
Lexus RC: 0 (0%)
Lotus Elise: 0 (0%)
Lotus Exige: 0 (0%)
Caterham: 0 (0%)

And lastly, at the very top end, the sports above $200,000 category was led by the mighty Porsche 911 once again. Sales for the famous nameplate are up 124 per cent for August, but down 16.2 per cent YTD.

Combined class figures reached 130 units during the month, up 28.7 per cent, and the YTD tally is 850 units, up 4.3 per cent. See below for the full lineup results, with the percentage change compared with the same month last year in brackets:

Porsche 911: 56 (+124.0%)
Lamborghini coupe/convertible: 21 (+5.0%)
Ferrari coupe/convertible: 20 (-13.0%)
McLaren coupe/convertible: 9 (-30.8%)
Bentley coupe/convertible: 3 (-62.5%)
Mercedes-Benz SL: 4 (new vehicle)
Aston Martin coupe/convertible: 4 (-42.9%)
BMW 8 Series: 10 (+233.3%)
Maserati coupe/convertible: 3 (+50%)
Nissan GT-R: 0 (-100%)
Rolls-Royce coupe/convertible: 0 (-100%)
Audi R8: 0 (0%)

Into the SUV categories, and it was the Toyota RAV4 that came home crowned as the best-selling SUV for the month. The Tesla Model Y remains the best-selling premium SUV.

Taking a look at the top three segments, the SUV Medium below $60,000 class reported the most sales with 17,713 units (up 27.7 per cent for the month), followed by the SUV Small below $45,000 class with 15,008 units (up 38.8 per cent). The SUV Large below $70,000 category rounded it out with 11,293 units (up 8.9 per cent for the month).

See below for the complete sales (new registrations) results for each SUV category for August 2023, with the percentage change compared with the same month last year in brackets:

Best-selling SUVs – Light

Mazda CX-3: 1115 (+103.5%)
Volkswagen T-Cross: 598 (-10.7%)
Toyota Yaris Cross: 547 (-29.0%)
Kia Stonic: 383 (-51.4%)
Suzuki Jimny: 382 (-43.2%)
Hyundai Venue: 316 (-45.7%)
Suzuki Ignis: 176 (+29.4%)
Ford Puma: 113 (-52.3%)
Nissan Juke: 71 (-19.3%)
Renault Captur: 27 (-70%)

Best-selling SUVs – Small below $45,000

MG ZS: 3193 (+118.3%)
Subaru Crosstrek: 1177 (new vehicle, replaces XV)
Mazda CX-30: 1132 (-25.3%)
Kia Seltos: 1085 (+24.9%)
Mitsubishi ASX: 1053 (-4.3%)
GWM Haval Jolion: 996 (+17.9%)
Hyundai Kona: 993 (+26.8%)
Toyota C-HR: 863 (+61.9%)
Toyota Corolla Cross: 858 (new vehicle)
Chery Omoda 5: 760 (new vehicle)
Mitsubishi Eclipse Cross: 678 (-8.5%)
Nissan Qashqai: 512 (+999%)
Volkswagen T-Roc: 504 (+17.8%)
Honda HR-V: 349 (-14.5%)
Renault Arkana: 259 (+43.9%)
Suzuki Vitara: 168 (-63.9%)
Skoda Kamiq: 142 (+51.1%)
Jeep Compass: 111 (-40%)
Suzuki S-Cross: 69 (-6.8%)
Mazda MX-30: 57 (-55.5%)
Peugeot 2008: 40 (+14.3%)
Citroen C4: 9 (+200%)
Subaru XV: 0 (-100%)
GWM Haval H2: 0 (-100%)

Best-selling SUVs – Small above $45,000

Volvo XC40: 592 (+99.3%)
BMW X1: 537 (+113.1%)
Lexus UX: 252 (+154.5%)
Audi Q3: 232 (-52.0%)
Mercedes-Benz GLA: 162 (-42.6%)
Mercedes-Benz EQA: 153 (+537.5%)
Kia Niro: 137 (+12.3%)
Volvo C40: 122 (new vehicle)
Audi Q2: 109 (+9.0%)
MINI Countryman: 95 (+23.4%)
Alfa Romeo Tonale: 49 (new vehicle)
Genesis GV60: 14 (new vehicle)
BMW X2: 12 (-83.3%)
Jaguar E-Pace: 5 (-58.3%)
Renault Megane E-Tech: 1 (new vehicle)

Best-selling SUVs – Medium below $60,000

Toyota RAV4: 3317 (+33.6%)
Hyundai Tucson: 2084 (+21.2%)
Mitsubishi Outlander: 2030 (+29.5%)
Mazda CX-5: 1784 (-23.3%)
Nissan X-Trail: 1533 (+197.1%)
Subaru Forester: 1427 (+146%)
Kia Sportage: 1259 (+1.8%)
BYD Atto 3: 803 (new vehicle)
Volkswagen Tiguan: 687 (+165.3%)
GWM Haval H6: 677 (+28%)
Honda ZR-V: 419 (new vehicle)
MG HS: 388 (-57%)
GWM Haval H6 GT: 351 (+6.7%)
Honda CR-V: 279 (-64.3%)
Ford Escape: 204 (-2.4%)
Cupra Formentor: 146 (+102.8)
Renault Koleos: 110 (+74.6%)
Skoda Karoq: 87 (-12.1%)
SsangYong Korando: 66 (+11.9%)
Peugeot 3008: 46 (-43.9%)
Peugeot 5008: 13 (-18.8%)
Citroen C5 Aircross: 3 (+50%)
Jeep Cherokee: 0 (-100%)

Best-selling SUVs – Medium above $60,000

Tesla Model Y: 2314 (+127.5%)
Lexus NX: 866 (+546.3%)
Mazda CX-60: 572 (new vehicle)
Mercedes-Benz GLC: 476 (+50.6%)
BMW X3: 393 (-6.4%)
Audi Q5: 305 (+34.4%)
Mercedes-Benz GLC coupe: 229 (+294.8%)
Porsche Macan: 200 (+47.1%)
Volvo XC60: 175 (-41.8%)
Mercedes-Benz EQB: 127 (+337.9)
Genesis GV70: 111 (+192.1%)
Hyundai IONIQ 5: 105 (+45.8%)
Mercedes-Benz GLB: 61 (-69.2%)
BMW X4: 59 (-42.2%)
Maserati Gracale: 53 (new vehicle)
Lexus RZ: 41 (new vehicle)
Mercedes-Benz EQC: 29 (+625%)
Alfa Romeo Stelvio: 9 (-70%) / Range Rover Evoque: 9 (-91.2%) / Cupra Ateca: 9 (-50%)
Peugeot 408: 4 (new vehicle)
Land Rover Discovery Sport: 3 (-89.3%)
Hyundai Nexo: 0 (0%)

Best-selling SUVs – Large below $70,000

Toyota Prado: 1969 (+3.5%)
Subaru Outback: 1654 (+138.3%)
Ford Everest: 1502 (+260.2%)
Isuzu MU-X: 1431 (+64.1%)
Toyota Kluger: 842 (-49.9%)
Hyundai Santa Fe: 647 (+75.8%)
Kia Sorento: 575 (-28.2%)
Mazda CX-8: 420 (-31.6%)
LDV D90: 378 (+122.4%)
Volkswagen Tiguan Allspace: 348 (+31.8%)
Mazda CX-9: 277 (-63.3%)
Hyundai Palisade: 266 (-45.9%)
Toyota Fortuner: 223 (-25.9%)
Skoda Kodiaq: 195 (+85.7%)
SsangYong Rexton: 141 (+18.5%)
GWM Tank 300: 112 (new vehicle) / Mitsubishi Pajero Sport: 112 (-81.2%)
Nissan Pathfinder: 97 (new model)
Jeep Wrangler: 92 (-49.2%)
Volkswagen Passat Alltrack: 12 (-33.3%)
Mitsubishi Pajero: 0 (-100.0%)
GWM Haval H9: 0 (0)

Best-selling SUVs – Large above $70,000

Land Rover Defender: 466 (+250.4%)
BMW X5: 307 (+26.9%)
Lexus RX: 295 (+137.9%)
Range Rover Sport: 294 (+999%)
Kia EV6: 243 (+203.8%)
Mercedes-Benz GLE: 153 (-51.3%)
Audi Q7: 126 (+96.9%)
Volvo XC90: 117 (+39.3%)
Jeep Grand Cherokee: 95 (-46.3%)
BMW X6: 79 (+6.8%)
Volkswagen Touareg: 61 (-41.9%)
Genesis GV80: 57 (+171.4%)
Range Rover Velar: 54 (+200%)
BMW iX: 47 (-37.3%)
Porsche Cayenne Coupe: 46 (-24.6%)
Porsche Cayenne: 45 (+21.6%)
Audi Q8: 44 (+0.0%)
Jaguar F-Pace: 37 (-35.1%)
Mercedes-Benz GLE coupe: 36 (-66.4%)
Audi e-tron: 12 (+33.3%)
Maserati Levante: 5 (-85.7%)
Jaguar I-Pace: 0 (+100%)

Best-selling SUVs – Upper large below $120,000

Toyota LandCruiser: 1641 (+35.3%)
Nissan Patrol: 1032 (+108.1%)
Land Rover Discovery: 84 (+999%)

Best-selling SUVs – Upper large above $120,000

Range Rover: 129 (+360.7%)
Lexus LX: 81 (+305%)
BMW X7: 70 (-21.3%)
Mercedes-Benz G-Class: 46 (+91.7%)
Mercedes-Benz GLS: 41 (-64.3%)
BMW XM: 10 (new vehicle) / Mercedes-Benz EQS SUV: 10 (new vehicle)
Bentley Bentayga: 9 (+50%)
Lamborghini Urus: 7 (+40%)
Rolls-Royce Cullinan: 5 (+25%)
Aston Martin DBX: 2 (-66.7%)

And lastly, the utes and pickups. See below for the top 10 best-selling utes in Australia for August 2023, according to VFACTS, including 4×2 and 4×4 and the large above $100,000 segments combined:

Toyota HiLux: 5762
Ford Ranger: 5760
Isuzu D-Max: 3281
Mazda BT-50: 1406
Toyota LandCruiser 70: 1102
Mitsubishi Triton: 1088
Nissan Navara: 839
LDV T60/T60 EV: 715
GWM Ute: 652
Volkswagen Amarok: 553

As mentioned, August was a record month according to VFACTS figures, with a total of 109,966 new vehicle registrations, up from 96,859 in July this year. For the month, that figure is up 15.4 per cent and YTD the increase is 9.9 per cent.